800,000 Viagra pills paid for last year by Taxpayer for Medical Card Holders.

gbee · 24-01-2012 1:59pm

Stark wrote: »

You can't sell unused antibiotics for €20 a pill.

How much is it then?

Benny_Cake · 24-01-2012 2:01pm

Viagra is manufactured in Ireland right? So this is actually causing our GDP to grow (sorry, best I could do). Anyway, it's a recognised medical condition so why wouldn't it be covered?

gosuckonalemon · 24-01-2012 2:02pm

seamus wrote: »

Don't see the problem.

Far better than ramming people full of anti-depressants and valium because they're stressing out about not being able to get a stiffy and their marriage is going down the tubes. If the government can facilitate people getting their jollies, that will serve society's benefit more than anything.

.

Agree with this. The drug is on Rx and is used to treat a medical condition.

If there are too many being prescribed then that is an issue that has to be brought up with those prescribing, i.e. the Doctors.

Also on both the medical card and Drugs Payments Scheme you are entitled to a maximum of 4 tablets per month.

That means if you suffer from erectile dysfunction/impotence due to depression or stress, and unless you can afford to pay for them privately, you only get to have sex at most 4 times per month.

sparrowcar · 24-01-2012 2:04pm

Like this comment if this thread makes you horny

Lollers · 24-01-2012 2:05pm

Attabear wrote: »

That was just for one bloke in the midlands.

I fear for the sheep.

Benny_Cake · 24-01-2012 2:06pm

gosuckonalemon wrote: »

Agree with this. The drug is on Rx and is used to treat a medical condition.

If there are too many being prescribed then that is an issue that has to be brought up with those prescribing, i.e. the Doctors.

Also on both the medical card and Drugs Payments Scheme you are entitled to a maximum of 4 tablets per month.

That means if you suffer from erectile dysfunction/impotence due to depression or stress, and unless you can afford to pay for them privately, you only get to have sex at most 4 times per month.

Cue a Sunday Independent article on how the "squeezed middle" aren't even getting it once a month, while the welfare spongers are getting laid at the taxpayers expense 4 times a month.

Ellis Dee · 24-01-2012 2:08pm

The ministers themselves are on Viagra Lite. It's for ****.:):D

Nodin · 24-01-2012 2:08pm

The statement in question...........

A Clare County Councillor is calling on the HSE to reduce the amount of money it spends on viagra for medical card holders.

€6.3m euro was spent on the erectile dysfunction drug in 2010, an increase of €500,000 over the previous year.

Green Party Councillor Brian Meaney said that given the current economic climate, more curtailments should be put in place to ensure viagra is only administered in genuine cases, and that generic drugs should be favoured over branded versions.

He said a wealthy pensioner had demanded the drug from him during the election campaign.

"I knocked on the door of a house. An elderly gentleman came out, told me he was over 80 years of age and demanded his viagra, because this is an issue I had identified before," he said.

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/councillor-calls-for-reduction-in-state-viagra-payments-537096.html#ixzz1kNfKDBax

Traumadoc · 24-01-2012 2:09pm

It could be argued that the contracepive pill is prescribed for similar "lifestyle" reasons. It allows women to have recreational rather than procreational sex.

Dare you to suggest that it comes off the medical card schedule!

gosuckonalemon · 24-01-2012 2:11pm

If someone gets 4 tablets a month per year that's a total of 48 tablets per annum.

800,000/48= 16,666 men prescribed it.

Not a massive number really, when you consider that almost 450,000 people are on anti-depressants.

Nothingbetter2d · 24-01-2012 2:11pm

A2LUE42 wrote: »

Just heard that on Newstalk, Surely I didn't hear correctly

thats just the tip of the iceberg

how much money goes towards methadone & many forms of sleepers/valium/xanax etc...the junkies take it when they have no money then still go and take heroin too when they do have money.. and thus dont really make an effort to quit

TheZohanS · 24-01-2012 2:11pm

It's the only stimulus package the government will ever come up with.

TheZohanS · 24-01-2012 2:14pm

Nothingbetter2d wrote: »

thats just the tip of the iceberg

how much money goes towards methadone & many forms of sleepers/valium/xanax etc...the junkies take it when they have no money then still go and take heroin too when they do have money.. and thus dont really make an effort to quit

Nah they don't take heroin with the methadone, they get tested regularly. If they fail the drugs test they get thrown off the methadone program.

I'd rather have a junkie be given free valium and xanex than be strung out annoying people.

gosuckonalemon · 24-01-2012 2:20pm

TheZohan wrote: »

Nah they don't take heroin with the methadone, they get tested regularly. If they fail the drugs test they get thrown off the methadone program.

I'd rather have a junkie be given free valium and xanex than be strung out annoying people.

I'm afraid your wrong. They are tested less and less due to cutbacks and often bring in urine from other methadone users who are not taking heroin. Hence it is possible to pass the urine test, get their weeks supply of methadone which they can then sell to buy heroin.

Unfortunately this happens alot.

TheZohanS · 24-01-2012 2:22pm

gosuckonalemon wrote: »

I'm afraid your wrong. They are tested less and less due to cutbacks and often bring in urine from other methadone users who are not taking heroin. Hence it is possible to pass the urine test, get their weeks supply of methadone which they can then sell to buy heroin.

Unfortunately this happens alot.

Where are you getting your information from if you don't mind me asking?

mikemac1 · 24-01-2012 2:28pm

seamus wrote: »

Don't see the problem.

Far better than ramming people full of anti-depressants and valium because they're stressing out about not being able to get a stiffy and their marriage is going down the tubes. If the government can facilitate people getting their jollies, that will serve society's benefit more than anything.

I remember talking a psychiatrist in the pub one night who only took patients on the public health schemes. He was frank, more frank than a psychiatrist should be about his patients. I'll never forget one of the thing he said though: "Most of the people who come into me just need a good ride. Nearly all they talk about when they come in, is sex. If the HSE paid for them to go see a hoor instead of giving me €80/hour, it would sort out all their problems".

This man for Minister for Health

Fear Uladh · 24-01-2012 2:30pm

mikemac1 wrote: »

This man for Minister for Everything

Fixed.

gbee · 24-01-2012 2:31pm

Benny_Cake wrote: »

Viagra is manufactured in Ireland right?

Can't confirm, but the facility in Ringaskiddy was shut down [or moved after they failed to get a licence extension on it].

In 1998 15% of Viagra active ingredient [stamping and packaging elsewhere] was produced in Cork, 500 people were employed and contributed €151 million to the Irish economy.

gosuckonalemon · 24-01-2012 2:33pm

TheZohan wrote: »

Where are you getting your information from if you don't mind me asking?

I dispense methadone daily. The methadone patients tell me all their tricks.

sh1tstirrer · 24-01-2012 2:39pm

A2LUE42 wrote: »

Just heard that on Newstalk, Surely I didn't hear correctly

Now that is some cock up.

Mr Benevolent · 24-01-2012 2:40pm

seamus wrote: »

Don't see the problem.

Far better than ramming people full of anti-depressants and valium because they're stressing out about not being able to get a stiffy and their marriage is going down the tubes. If the government can facilitate people getting their jollies, that will serve society's benefit more than anything.

I remember talking a psychiatrist in the pub one night who only took patients on the public health schemes. He was frank, more frank than a psychiatrist should be about his patients. I'll never forget one of the thing he said though: "Most of the people who come into me just need a good ride. Nearly all they talk about when they come in, is sex. If the HSE paid for them to go see a hoor instead of giving me €80/hour, it would sort out all their problems".

Psychiatrists who only deal with the public tend to be very straightforward. I was at one with my dad and by god was he blunt. Friendly though. Fair play to them in my book.

Attabear · 24-01-2012 2:43pm

seamus wrote: »

I remember talking a psychiatrist in the pub one night who only took patients on the public health schemes. He was frank, more frank than a psychiatrist should be about his patients. I'll never forget one of the thing he said though: "Most of the people who come into me just need a good ride. Nearly all they talk about when they come in, is sex. If the HSE paid for them to go see a hoor instead of giving me €80/hour, it would sort out all their problems".

Patient: Doctor, I feel so conflicted. I don't know whether I'm coming or going.

Psychiatrist: I've got just the solution. Hand me my prescription pad would you? It's right here in my pocket. Keep reaching. It's in there.

Nothingbetter2d · 24-01-2012 2:50pm

TheZohan wrote: »

Nah they don't take heroin with the methadone, they get tested regularly. If they fail the drugs test they get thrown off the methadone program.

I'd rather have a junkie be given free valium and xanex than be strung out annoying people.

thats absolute crap... i know many people the are on methadone and still do heroin..... most of the doctors just dont give a crap and give it to them anyways.

TheZohanS · 24-01-2012 2:52pm

gosuckonalemon wrote: »

I dispense methadone daily. The methadone patients tell me all their tricks.

What is your take on benzos?

Nothingbetter2d wrote: »

thats absolute crap... i know many people the are on methadone and still do heroin..... most of the doctors just dont give a crap and give it to them anyways.

I have been corrected by a pharmacist, my own information was incorrect. I was sure myself that under some programmes addicts had to take regular drugs tests. I must have been mistaken.